“From the Ancient Wisdoms to Quantum Physics,
It's All About the Energy!”
What's the “Big Deal?”©
Dennis L. Dossett
(All Rights Reserved)
I've had several clients in the past few months that seemed to be confused by words that are similar but that have distinctly different meanings (for example, see my blog Detach, But Don't Be Detached!). In some instances, the distinction is not critically important, but sometimes the misunderstanding thwarts their ability to manifest what they desire or (even more importantly) hinders their spiritual development. That's a “Big Deal!” So, let's take a quick look at Merriam-Webster's Dictionary for the words “Expect” and “Expectation:”
Expect: - verb
• to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of
• to consider probable or certain
• to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
• to consider bound in duty or obligated
The underlying theme here is that of anticipating some future event or outcome (either positive or negative) either as a certainty or as highly likely. This is very important in manifesting as well as in spiritual development because unlikely future events or outcomes have little impact on motivation and persistence in the present.
Expectation: - noun
• the act or state of expecting: anticipation
This is simply the nominal form of the verb “expect” as defined above. Having positive expectations is not only a good thing, it is critical both to manifesting and to spiritual development.
• “If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure, satisfaction and happiness, we will attract and create people, situations, and events which conform to our positive expectations.” ~ Shakti Gawain (1948-2018; American New Age & personal development author)
But the noun “Expectation” also means:
• something expected (as “not up to expectations” or “expectations for an economic recovery”)
The focus here is on the “something,” the content of what one is expecting which often includes a number of specifications and/or conditions that one thinks should or must be met. In other words, an expectation carries with it (or at least, implies) a judgment (good or bad) depending on whether one's expectations have been met. This “pass/fail” aspect-along with the detailed specifications or conditions for “passing” (or at least being good enough) are nearly universally recognized as getting in the way or impeding both manifesting and spiritual progress.
• “Expectation feeds frustration. It is an unhealthy attachment to people, things, and outcomes we wish we could control, but don't.” ~ Steve Maraboli (1975-; American behavioral scientist, author, speaker & radio show host)
• “When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be.” ~ Mandy Hale (American blogger & author)
• “Many people pray and receive the answer to their prayers, but ignore them-or deny them, because the answers didn't come in the expected form.” ~ Sophy Burnham (1936-; American playwright, novelist, and non-fiction writer)
In short, expectations are a potent form of resistance that I wrote about in my previous blog, “Going with the Flow.” Instead of loading your thoughts and dreams with expectations, try “not resisting the natural flow of life, not 'fighting' your circumstances but working with what you have and giving control of your circumstances to the Universe to deal with.”
So, what's the “Big Deal?” Confine your expectations to anticipating (expecting) positive events and outcomes in your life. Better yet, when you can turn your anticipation into knowing without a doubt (not just a likelihood) that these things will take place and you can enjoy them as if they were present in your life right now, you are well on your way to actually manifesting what you want and raising your vibration in the process. Don't anticipate how good it will feel when it eventually arrives (there's an expectation hiding behind those words!). Feel good right now in the assurance that it has already been created and enjoy it before it is an actual fact in your life. This is called “feel it real.”
Why learn and practice how to do this? Because we really do live in an attraction-based universe (that's not metaphysics, that's quantum physics!) and it works. The universe responds to how you feel, not to your words. How you feel (either positive or negative) is what you get more of. And you are in charge of that. Now that is a Really, Really Big Deal!
Have a great month!
Dennis